Jump Start the Process

As we help to prepare Murphy, my 17 year old stepson, for college I am in awe of the tools that are available to him.  On the site where we signed him up for the SAT there were all of these wonderful tests for personality, career path and majors.  I wondered if so many people my age would be trying to discover themselves now if these tools had been available when we went to school.

But, is it really ever too late?  Only when we are dead!!  As I have been working on my values, skills and talents outline I've wondered if it would be helpful to take the same tests that Murphy took.  Unfortunately, they wanted me to sign up for the SAT before they would provide the tools.  And, that ship has sailed!!  But there is always another way.

The DISC profile analyzes your personality and values!  It will also tell you what career is most likely to fit your particular personality.  The good news is that my values are in line with what I have been finding on my own.  Where I found real help was in getting more clear on my desires and skills.

I find that clarity is often hard to get my arms around when the task seems daunting.  Writing down my skills/talents and values felt important when I decided on these steps.  But, putting pen to paper and making something out of it has been difficult.  Stepping stones like the DISC profile or one of the many other tests available help to jump start the process.

What type of personality are you?

Who am I?

So I begin this journey with the thought that making time to do something for me, practicing yoga, meditation, visualization, yadda yadda yadda would be the way to go.  But, yesterday as I am trying to organize my thoughts around this idea I kept getting noise.

You know what I mean....when you start to focus on something and you get a hundred ideas rushing into your head.  It's like you meant to turn the faucet on to get a nice steady stream, nothing to strong so that it doesn't splash and make a mess everywhere, and instead you get a gusher.  I didn't have focus, my mind was racing and I was exhausted by dinner.  I was actually too tired to eat.

Frustrated because I thought this process would be energizing I just went to bed.  When I woke up this morning I was still tired.  I laid there thinking maybe I bit off more than I can chew.  Maybe this quest is too big for me for where I am right now.  Depressed I started to wonder when would be the right time.

That question led me to ask, "When was the time in my life that I felt my best?  When did I feel like I was doing what I should be doing and I was where I should be?"  Of course, there isn't one easy answer to these questions.  There are different times in my life that I was in a good place for different reasons.  So I refined the question a little.

I asked myself, "When was I the most comfortable in my skin?"  Bingo, that's the question.  There have been a lot of times that were good for different reasons but that weren't necessarily comfortable.  A couple of things instantly came to mind.

Situations where I have made a significant contribution and been recognized for my efforts.  All right, you might not agree that recognition is important; but I do know that about myself.  You take enough of these personality tests (Myers-Briggs, DISC) and you discover things about yourself that are true even if they aren't flattering.  I need pats on the back.

The other thought that comes to mind instantly is when I have a very close group of friends that feel like family.  Because I have moved so much I find myself starting this process over and over all the time.  We just left St. Louis where I have a wonderful group of friends.  We were in and out of each others homes, businesses and lives every day.  So small, close groups....check!

So the noise starts to subside a little.  That leaves me to figure out how this applies to my journey.  I'm sure it's meaningful, but how?  At least there is some progress.  Hallelujah!!